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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Vegetables and clay
Jeff Williams, a sculptor who uses clay, will work a demonstration booth today at the Statham Farmers Market.

Group builds outhouse
The Georgia Piedmont Arts Center in Auburn will present the “Outhouse Paint-A-Thon” at the Independence Day Celebration in downtown Auburn on July 2-3.

Georgia outfielder determined to play baseball again
ATLANTA - Three months after a devastating on-field collision between University of Georgia outfielders Zach Cone and Johnathan Taylor left Taylor partially paralyzed, the two were side by side again on Saturday as draft picks of the Texas Rangers.

McIlroy gets to 14 under at US Open
BETHESDA, Md. — Rory McIlroy set another record at the U.S. Open on Saturday, making a birdie on the 14th hole to become the first player in the history of the tournament to reach 14-under par.

E Street Band's Clarence Clemons dies at 69
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life saxophone player for the E Street Band who was one of the key influences in Bruce Springsteen's life and music through four decades, has died. He was 69.

Dad’s advice in business
Editor’s Note: For Father’s Day, Metro Editor Allison Floyd asked business owners who took over the family enterprise from their dads what they learned from him along the way.

The Local Jam a Southern-style, New York deli
What started out as a training opportunity for Irina Cochran to learn about the food service industry turned into a partnership for a new Five Points breakfast cafe and deli, The Local Jam, which opened June 1.

Nelson: Retiree market could be a big boost to the Athens area
Fortune Magazine earlier this month highlighted Athens’ allure for retirees in a feature titled “Four Great Places to Retire: for the Lifetime Learner — College Towns (http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/01/1-for-the-lifetime-learner-college-towns/).

Chambliss is first senator with a smartphone app
ATLANTA — For smartphone users interested in keeping up with the U.S. Senate, there’s now an app for that.
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., announced last week he’s rolling out a software application for iPhones and iPads giving constant information about his official activities, making him the first senator to do so. He even produced a YouTube video about the app.

Ted’s Most Best to open this week
Business partners Jessica Greene and Jay Totty expect to open their new restaurant Ted’s Most Best this week, according to an announcement at the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation Preservation Awards last Monday.

BBQ hut making a move on Baxter
Nile Faulkner, the owner of The Butt Hutt barbecue joint on the corner of Baxter and Harris streets is moving a little closer to campus. Faulkner has been reworking the former Sudz laundry space at 396 Baxter St. at the corner of Pope Street.

Chicken Coop B&B opens in Oglethorpe
Oglethorpe County residents Norman and Sonja Armour recently opened up a bed and breakfast called Chicken Coop B&B, at 1030 Athens Road, about a half a mile east of Crawford.

Police investigating reported rape
A 26-year-old woman reported she was raped between 1 and 3 a.m. Thursday at a home in Western Clarke County, Athens-Clarke police said.

Apartment resident scares off burglar
A 22-year-old Pineview Drive resident told Athens-Clarke police he woke up about midnight Friday when a burglar reached through the man's bedroom window.

Copper thieves rob 2 vacant houses
Copper thieves broke into a pair of adjoining vacant homes in the 100 block of Sayemore Drive between June 10 and Thursday and stole wiring and coils with an estimated value of $10,000, Athens-Clarke police said.

Smudge may help police trace thief
A burglar stole a television, an XBox unit, a laptop computer and a checkbook from a home in the 100 block of Trail Creek Street between midnight and 3 a.m. Saturday, Athens-Clarke police said.

Squatter takes off with DVR, modem
A squatter took a DVR and modem valued at $400, but left sodas, yogurt, toothpaste and a toothbrush in a home on Venita Drive when the resident returned on Friday morning, Athens-Clarke police said.

Speedy thief hits convenience store
A thief set off an alarm about 5 a.m. Friday when he broke a window of a BP station at 1925 W. Broad St., but still got away with an undetermined amount of cash, lottery tickets, tobacco products and lighters, Athens-Clarke police said.

Phone, computer taken from campus
Someone stole an iPhone and iPad, together valued at $1,100, from the University of Georgia's Miller Plant Sciences building between 2 and 2:06 p.m. Thursday, UGA police said.

Three four-wheelers taken from shed
A thief took three four-wheelers valued at more than $1,000 from an unsecured shed near a Danielsville Road home Thursday night or Friday morning, Athens-Clarke police said.

Rolling Ridge patrol nets drug arrest
Athens-Clarke police arrested a 20-year-old man on a marijuana charge in the parking lot at Rolling Ridge Apartments on Kathwood Drive in North Athens.

Henley in good position
BETHESDA, Md. - Russell Henley's quest to become the first back-to-back low amateur at the U.S. Open in 20 years is alive and well.

Meet the Realtor®: Blaine Bostelman
Buying a home can be an overwhelming and confusing experience. It is essential to find a realtor who is has extensive experience and can provide meaningful and understandable insight to their clients… Blaine Bostelman is that realtor. His motto is, “Real Estate Simplified” and he is the ideal realtor for first-time prospective homeowners, retirees, and families outgrowing their current living situation. An Associate Broker with Athens Classic Properties, Bostelman has made it his personal goal to guide home buyers through the home buying process, helping to ease their apprehensions and make sure their needs are met.

Rich: ‘Honest Ralph’ more than just a man of faith
Whenever I or anyone else think of Daddy, it is his faith that defined him over and above all else. The man and his faith were inseparable. To know his faith, was to know him. To know him, was to come face-to-face with a bullet-proof faith.

Tedrow: Sanitation best way to get rid of peach problem
The peaches on my tree are developing soft, brown spots before the fruits fully ripen. Some of the spots have a light tan fuzzy growth in the center. Other fruits are shriveling and drying up completely and hanging on the tree. I had this same problem last year and sprayed a fungicide this spring to get rid of the disease.

Sweet corn’s not just for farms anymore
Rumor has it the place to grow sweet corn is in a farm field. Backyard gardens, the reasoning goes, generally are not large enough to make the harvest worth it, and pollination problems likely are with small plantings.

Colbert celebration set
The City of Colbert will host its 42nd annual Fourth of July Parade and Celebration on July 2 with a parade that begins at 9 a.m. featuring veterans of the Korean War serving as grand marshals.

Meet the Dawgs
University of Georgia football players will attend a fundraising event today in Colbert to raise money for the Rising Sun Youth Club and to help the family of Evan Escoe, a 10-year-old boy who was killed with a friend June 3 in a wreck near Athens.

Whitworth receives award for project on goat herd
Madison County High FFA member Garrett Whitworth, left, receives a plaque from a state FFA official at the recent Georgia FFA State Convention for a project he conducted on his goat herd. Garrett placed second in the area of specialty animal production. He was previously named regional winner of the Specialty Animal Production Entrepreneurship for the project. He received more than $100 in prize money. Garrett is the son of Grita and Chris Whitworth of Royston.

Slonaker to head UGA bulldog club
Mark Slonaker, a four-year basketball letterman with Georgia, was named executive director of the UGA Bulldog Club, according to an announcement Friday by athletic director Greg McGarity.

Allies talking with Taliban
KABUL, Afghanistan - President Hamid Karzai acknowledged Saturday that the U.S. and Afghan governments have held talks with Taliban emissaries in a bid to end the nation's nearly 10-year war, even as suicide attackers launched a bold assault in the heart of the county's capital, killing nine people.

U.N. vote boost for gay rights
GENEVA - The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by some African and Muslim countries.

Internet firms line up to go public
SAN FRANCISCO - It's starting to feel like a 1999 flashback. Internet companies - some of them profitable, some not - sense a golden opportunity and are lining up to go public this year.

Impersonator mocks Obama, Gingrich at GOP forum
NEW ORLEANS — A Barack Obama impersonator was ushered off the stage after he mocked the Republican presidential hopefuls and joked about the real president's biracial roots to a room full of conservative activists Saturday.

Perry crashing GOP's 2012 field
NEW ORLEANS - A candidate in waiting, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is elbowing the Republicans already in the 2012 presidential race as he courts party activists, operatives and donors still shopping for someone to back against President Obama.

AARP ripped for not opposing cuts
WASHINGTON - AARP, the powerful lobby for older Americans, was hammered Friday by fellow activists for refusing to oppose any and all cuts to Social Security benefits, a position the group says it has long held as a way to extend the life of the massive retirement and disability program.

Violence continues to rage in Syria
BEIRUT - Syrian security forces fired on thousands of protesters Friday, killing a teenage boy and at least 15 other civilians as accounts emerged of more indiscriminate killing and summary executions by the autocratic regime of President Bashar Assad, activists said.

U.S. says Pakistan tipping off militants
WASHINGTON Ñ US officials say Pakistan has apparently tipped off militants at two more bomb-building factories in its tribal areas, giving the terror suspects time to flee, after U.S. intelligence shared the locations with the Pakistani government.

Ties between liberals and Obama fraying
MINNEAPOLIS - What's a frustrated liberal to do? Democrats on the ideological left are grousing that President Obama is just not that into them, and they're soul searching at a big weekend meeting about the strained political relationship as he seeks re-election.

Syrian refugees flee assault by troops
BOYNUYOGUN REFUGEE CAMP, Turkey - Syrian troops backed by tanks and firing heavy machine guns swept into a village near the Turkish border Saturday, forcing more people displaced by the crackdown on anti-government protesters to flee across the frontier.

Missouri River has residents on edge
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It isn't so much the amount of water churning its way down the Missouri River that has people along the nation's longest waterway on edge. It's how long all that water will stick around.

Giffords visting hometown of Tucson this weekend
PHOENIX — Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was back in her hometown Friday, visiting Tucson for Father's Day weekend in her first time back to her hometown since she was shot in January.

Report: Obama overruled lawyers on Libya air war
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama decided he could continue the air war in Libya without congressional approval despite rulings to the contrary from Justice Department and Pentagon lawyers, according to published reports.

Man beats wife, son to death with bat
WARRINGTON, Pa. - A man clubbed his wife and 7-year-old son to death with a baseball bat before committing suicide on a set of train tracks, authorities said Saturday.

Finalist named to take helm of hospital
Board members of Athens Regional Health Services, the umbrella organization that owns Athens Regional Medical Center, late Friday afternoon named a single finalist to become the next president and CEO of the health system.

Past year's killings marked by lack of guns
William Valentine Jr. begins trial this week in Clarke County Superior Court on charges that he beat another man to death with a toilet lid, one of several murders over the past year that didn't involve the typical weapon - a gun.

Treatment, drug court to expand
After a yearlong trial run in Barrow County, officials are ready to expand the Piedmont Judicial Circuit's drug and mental health court program to Jackson County.

Voters' worry: Money
When voters step into the booths for a state House of Representatives special election Tuesday, many of them will have one thing on their minds: money.

Fitness teacher: No regrets about Weiner exchanges
Athens fitness instructor Traci Nobles said on the "Today" show Friday she has no regrets about exchanging sexually explicit online messages and photographs with former New York congressman Anthony Weiner.

Methodists vote to return in 2014 and 2015
Classic Center officials breathed a sigh of relief Friday afternoon after members of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to return to Athens in 2014 and 2015.

New members of Four Corners Woman's Club
Georgia Federation of Women’s Club (GaFWC) President Sharon Carter inducted new members of the GaFWC/Four Corners Woman’s Club on June 5 at the historic Athens Woman’s Club clubhouse. Pictured: Laura Toney, Courtney Walters, GaFWC President Sharon Carter, Four Corners Woman’s Club President Linda Ford, GaFWC 10th District President Georgianna Toole, Hannah Epps, Elizabeth Stanizale, Amy Wraga, Tracy Morrow, Karen Dibling, Susan Bradley, Julie Walters, Amelia Daniel, Jean Weeks, Grace Deatrick and Tina Daniel- Reasey.

French national returned to Ga. to face charges
CANTON, Ga. — A Woodstock man and French national accused of attempting to buy a 5-year-old child online is in the custody of Cherokee County authorities after he was detained for more than a year in Canada.

Clarke Democrats will meet Thursday
The Clarke County Democratic Committee will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Grand Jury Room of the Clarke County Courthouse, 325 E. Washington St.

Dock-diving dogs return
Some of the top-ranked dogs in the sport of dock diving will compete July 2-4 at the Great American Dawg Jump at Oconee Veterans Park on Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville.

OCAF wants to fix old windows
When the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation was organized in 1994, a few skeptics believed the dream of Watkinsville becoming a thriving arts center would never see the light of day.

Learning pottery
The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation is sponsoring a pottery class with instructor George McCauley, a Montana artist with 175 exhibitions to his credit including a permanent collection at a museum in South Korea.

Volunteer named top First Responder
Oconee Fire and Rescue volunteer Mark Capobianco recently was recognized as the Oconee County Medical First Responder of the year by the Northeast Region 10 EMS Council. Shown at the presentation are, from left, Chris Threlkeld, Region 10 EMS program director; Deputy Fire Chief Mark Melvin; Capobianco; and Jim Dove, chairman of the Region 10 EMS Council. Capobianco completed the 80-hour Medical First Responder course offered by Oconee County Volunteer Fire Rescue in 2010 and made an immediate impact in the medical responses throughout the county, according to Melvin. He responds to a majority of the emergency calls as a volunteer while maintaining his own business.

‘Share the Road’ signs placed in Oconee county
A crew with the Oconee County Public Works Department installs a “Share the Road” sign along Simonton Bridge Road recently. The signs were placed on some of the more heavily traveled roads occupied by motor vehicles and cyclists. The signs were a joint venture by the county and the Oconee County Cycling Organization, which sponsored fundraisers to help pay for the signs.

White Sox go undefeated
The White Sox went undefeated with a record of 17-0 this season in the Major League division of Oconee County Little League and went on to win the tournament. Team members include Coach Mike Bennett, Luke Wells, Taylor Boswell, Gavin Adcock, Brice Whited, Ben Howell, Coach Michael Malone, Nate Seagraves, Devon Sanderson, Cam Conglose, Justin Malone, Rex Bennett, Chandler Williams and Michael Van Halanger.

Blackmon: Economic development group owes taxpayers
If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you always got. It appears that's the case with the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Foundation, currently in the crosshairs of some county commissioners who have questions about its effectiveness. Commissioners voted recently to withhold most of the funding the foundation receives from the county.

Dupuy: We're the problem with today's 'news' media
"The media" is our favorite whipping boy. It's shallow, petty and often stupid. It misses points, focuses on the wrong things and completely ignores the bigger issues. It's prone to obsess on trivial rivalries and scandals instead of thoughtful substantive discussions about things which affect us most.

Tant: 'Peace journalist' is powerful columnist
Summer is coming and there is no better season to enjoy the pleasure of a good book. Chicago scribe Robert C. Koehler's new book, "Courage Grows Strong at the Wound," is a compelling collection of his columns that makes for a great read in the summertime or anytime. Koehler's columns range from the personal to the political and they appeal to the hearts and heads of readers.

Father's Day
In today's package of editorial cartoons, Banner-Herald cartoonist intern Katie Downs of Clarke Central High School offers up a sampling of life with her father as the newspaper pays homage to Fathers Day. Here's some background from Katie on the scenes she's chosen to depict:

Forum: Try to get an education with your degree
Now that graduation season is upon us, here's one last test question for the high school students: Have you ever seen the painting of a pipe by Rene Magritte? It's called "The Treachery of Imagery," and if you haven't had art history, I'll describe it. It's just a painting of a pipe, really, except that at the bottom it says, in French, "This is not a pipe." What can such a caption mean? Obviously, what's portrayed is a pipe. But Magritte is trying to remind us that his painting is just a picture of a pipe - an image that cannot be stuffed with tobacco or smoked - and that's a crucial distinction.

Ching: Double the pleasure, fun
Editor's note: Athens Banner-Herald writers David Ching and Joe VanHoose are tag-teaming golf courses around North Georgia this summer to sample what's available to our area's hackers. We'll write about our experiences at the various courses each Sunday. If you would like to suggest a course, e-mail us at david.ching@onlineathens.com or joe.vanhoose@onlineathens.com.

McIlroy off to best start in tournament's history at 11 under
BETHESDA, Md. - In one of those can't-miss moments in sports, thousands of fans covered every inch of space on the hill behind the 10th green at Congressional. They spilled onto the clubhouse veranda, pressed their faces against the windows and lined up against the balcony railing to watch Rory McIlroy deliver a performance never before seen in the U.S. Open.

Williams sisters return
WIMBLEDON, England - Two simple words at the end of a June 7 tweet said it all: "Serena's back!"

Texas keeps lead with win over Atlanta
ATLANTA - Colby Lewis and Nelson Cruz shook off slumps, Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer and the Texas Rangers beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Friday night to protect their lead in the AL West.

McIlroy's lead now eight
BETHESDA, Md. - Rory McIlroy kept punishing the golf course and the record book Saturday, setting himself up with an eight-shot lead at the U.S. Open with 18 holes left between him and his first major title.

Former Cub Girardi back at Wrigley Field
CHICAGO - When he was just a little kid, Joe Girardi dreamed of playing for the Chicago Cubs. He grew up rooting for the forlorn franchise, often making the trip to Wrigley Field with his father, Jerry.

Westwood trails by nine
BETHESDA, Md. - Lee Westwood was beaming as he strolled on a bridge from the 18th green to Congressional Country Club's short-game area.

Vandy-UNC open at new park
OMAHA, Neb. - The College World Series opens at the new TD Ameritrade Park today after 61 years at Rosenblatt Stadium, and coaches are doing all they can to keep their players focused on what happens between the lines.

Vandy opens with victory
OMAHA, Neb. - Connor Harrell hit the first College World Series home run in the new TD Ameritrade Park to break a sixth-inning tie and first-time qualifier Vanderbilt defeated North Carolina 7-3 on Saturday.

Sharapova eyes second victory
WIMBLEDON, England - For all that Maria Sharapova already has accomplished in tennis, a Grand Slam title now would be more gratifying than those from the past.

U.S. carrier that buried bin Laden may host games
SAN DIEGO - Organizers say it's all but certain that the Michigan State-North Carolina basketball game on Veterans Day will be played aboard the USS Carl Vinson, the aircraft carrier that carried Osama bin Laden's body to a burial at sea.

Rubio decides to join T-Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS - When David Kahn drafted Ricky Rubio in 2009, he called the Spanish teenager "a virtuoso" and told Minnesota season-ticket holders that he would "be our starting point guard here the moment he walks through our front door."

Nevada WR Wimberly injured in shooting
RENO, Nev. - Nevada starting wide receiver Brandon Wimberly was shot and seriously wounded early Saturday in a fight between a group of his football teammates and another group of men.

Catching up with MLB
► Red Sox 10, Brewers 4: At Boston, John Lackey retired 15 straight batters after a shaky start, Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz had three hits each and Boston won for the 12th time in 13 games.

Catching up with MLB
n YANKEES 4, CUBS 3: At Chicago, Curtis Granderson hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and Brett Gardner made a terrific play in the outfield to lead New York to a victory over Chicago.